ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday has launched ‘Naya Pakistan Housing Program’ (NPHP) at a special ceremony in Islamabad. While addressing a media conference the prime minister said the target of the government is to ensure provision of five million affordable houses for under-privileged classes during the next five years. The prime minister expressed the confidence that the program would not only help realize the dream of a shelter for the poor but also create employment opportunities. It will also attract local and foreign investment and stimulate about forty related industries. Imran Khan announced formation of a ‘Naya Pakistan Housing Authority’ (NPHA) to serve as one window for all construction related formalities. The authority would be set up in three months and till then a task force would look after the housing project. A National Financial Regulatory Body (NFRB) would be set up in two months to remove hurdles in financing of construction of houses. A legal framework would also be prepared to ensure that there are no legal hurdles in the way of implementation of housing project. He said a Land Bank would be instituted to identify land with federal government, housing ministry, provincial governments and local bodies. Imran Khan said in the first phase pilot projects would be launched in seven districts of the country. He said a registration process would be initiated in these districts from tomorrow with the cooperation of NADRA to gather data for housing needs of the people. He said the government is launching its first project for its employees and registration for the same would begin from tomorrow. Punjab government would also launch a similar project. PM Khan explained that the government would serve as a facilitator while construction activity would be undertaken by the private sector. “The project would require huge manpower, training programs would be launched to impart skills to people and seven thousand skills teaching institutes would be established in the country,” the prime minister added. He hoped that NPHP would prove to be flagship project of the government bringing prosperity to the country.